Authentically Detroit

Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist is the chair of the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, who is released a report today with 14 recommendations to curb disparate health outcomes on racialized communities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that has laid bare the systemic inequities that has existed in the state fo Michigan. Gilchrist is the first Black Lieutenant G...

40 year Wright Museum veteran Kevin Davidson joined Donna and Orlando to talk about the legacy of Dr. Wright (Detroit's Baby Deliverer, Lover of Art & History), his relationship with him and the ever expanding Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Kevin who happens to be Donna's hubby who also serves as the Director of Fabrication and Design at The Wright was recently...

Black History Month continues as Donna and Orlando honor three women who have dedicated their lives in service to their neighbors and the Eastside.  Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

Happy Black History Month! We kick off Black History Month with a conversation with Dwan Dandridge of Black Leaders Detroit about their new zero interest loan product for Black businesses in Detroit and their grant-a-day program to local Detroit-based nonprofits all February long.  Visit www.blackleadersdetroit.org to learn more!  Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

In a new monthly series sponsored by the Skillman Foundation, Authentically Detroit is partnering with Eastside Community Network and the Vault Teen Center to bring you "Vaulted Youth Voices," where young people who are learning Detroit History, podcast producing, and the power of narrative will curate an episode of our podcast! The goal is to eventually have the young people create and...

Kirk Mayes , CEO of Forgotten Harvest sits down for a one-on-one with Orlando to talk about what feeds his addictive love for Detroit, the missional purpose of Forgotten Harvest, the late Marlowe Stoudamire, and what he wants to do next! Be sure to share with a friend!  Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

Regina Ann Campbell, president and CEO of BUILD Institute joins Donna and Orlando to talk about making Detroit the leader in "inclusive entrepreneurship." It was a phenomenal discussion.     Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

Welcome back! This episode Donna and Orlando welcome back Yusef Bunchy Shakur along with Philadelphia city-builder, Michael O'Bryan to talk about the tendency to conflate trauma with culture as well as the romanticism we carry for experiences that are often times traumatizing to us. We also talked about reimagining public safety! Listen and share with a friend!  Support the show Follow us on...

Donna and Orlando welcomes back State Senator Adam Hollier, State Representative Tenisha Yancey and state Capitol reporter for Bridge Michigan, Sergio Martínez-Beltrán.  In 2018, Michigan voters elected to transfer the power of drawing the state’s congressional and legislative districts from the political majority in the state legislature to an independent citizens redistricting commission. The me...

A group of 12 Black Detroiters went on an excursion of search of Black Thriving   in Paris, France.  Lauren Hood is the founder and executive director of the Institute of Afro-Urbanism and the curator of the trip! Allen Penniman is a city planner and designer in Detroit who went on the excursion.  Orlando is out this week but Donna has all bases covered.  Support the show Follow us on Instagram ,...

We close out 2021 in a space of grace and gratefulness with Detroit's Godmother, THEE GAIL PERRY-MASON!  Happy Holidays, Everyone!  See you in 2022. Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

This week Donna and Orlando had the opportunity to interview one of their greatest mentors in community development, Maggie DeSantis. Maggie was one of the founders of Warren/Conner Development Coalition now known as Eastside Community Network. She served as the President/CEO for 30+ years and was succeeded by Donna in 2016. The organization still serves as breeding ground for amazing talent that...

This week Orlando is a co-moderator for the 'Seeking Alignment: Power Building to Equalize the Playing Field for Neighborhoods' forum sponsored by Building the Engine of Community Development in Detroit and the Community Development Advocates of Detroit. Guests are follows: Sherita Smith , Cinnaire Maggie DeSantis , Building the Engine of Community Development in Detroit Madahavi Reddy ,...

Later today, on December 1st, Latisha Johnson will be sworn in as City Council Representative for District 4 Detroit.  While Orlando is on a fact-finding trip with colleagues and friends, Donna and Latisha had a wide-ranging conversation discussing her plans, her policy goals, and stances on community issues. Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

Last week a story collaboration between NBC News and Outlier Media day-lighted a pervasive issue that a lot of Detroiters know all too well. The scam of fake landlords collecting thousands of dollars from vulnerable residents who think they’re paying the true owner of the property or a legitimate property management company. We're joined by the journalists who reported the story, Aaron Mondry...

Welcome back! Donna and Orlando are joined by Branden Snyder, Co-Executive Director of Detroit Action to run down the results from Detroit's latest municipal election. The real story is that residents have elected what seems to be a more progressive city council and the trio discusses how that could impact Mayor Duggan's agenda. They are also asking the question of how Detroit can have o...

Join Donna and Orlando as they interview a number of elected officials, local political candidates, and resident leaders during their Detroit Election Watch Party and Townhall.  Guests in order of appearance: Denzel McCampbell, Candidate for Detroit City Clerk State Senator Adam Hollier Latisha Johnson, Candidate for District 4 City Council seat Nicole Small, Candidate for At-Large City Council se...

This episode we are joined Joel Howrani Heeres who serves as the Director for the Office of Sustainability in the Mayor's Office. We talked about how the Office of Sustainability is doing the work to center equity in all of their work, climate change, and much needed investment in infrastructure that touch our neighborhoods and our homes. The Office of Sustainability will be hosting a series...

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is presenting 10 DRAFT maps of newly redrawn state and federal legislative lines. A Michigan State University study says that the current draft maps harm Black voters. Michigan State Senator Adam Hollier joins us to issue a call to action to voters in Detroit and Southeastern Michigan to raise their voice and concern to the Commission as t...

It's our 100 episode celebration!!! This episode we're bringing you the highly anticipated debate between M.L. Elrick and Latisha Johnson for Detroit's District 4 City Council seat. Listen to the two of them debate the issues and make an informed decision at the ballot box.  Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . 

The November General Election is quickly approaching and some Detroit residents have already received their absentee ballots. Many were surprised to see Proposal S on the back of their ballot and raised concerns about what the proposal's language actually means. The man behind Proposal S, Attorney Todd Perkins, joins us to break down what the proposal would do if Detroiters vote 'yes.&ap...

We went to the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference last week where we had the opportunity to interview three dynamic conference speakers! Dr. Andre Perry , Senior Fellow at Brookings Institute and Author of "Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America's Black Cities Dwan Dandridge , Founder & CEO of Black Leaders Detroit Angelique Power , Presi...

We're back! This week, Denzel McCampbell joins us to talk about his candidacy for Detroit City Clerk. He tells us about his vision for the role and how he plans to completely overhaul engagement and education should he win the election on November 2nd.  Here are the stories we included in our Hot Takes segment! As always, thanks for listening! ‘THE SCENE’ REUNION CELEBRATES DETROIT’S DANCE HI...

Donna and funny man Darryl Earl sit down to discuss his work prior to joining ECN to Direct the Stoudamire Wellness Hub, his career as a professional comedian, and most importantly, upcoming plans for the Stoudamire Wellness Hub, so named after Eastside legend Marlowe Stoudamire.   Shoutouts to: Orlando Bailey on vacation this week and winner of the Spirit of Detroit award Darnell Adams for his ap...

BridgeDetroit reporters Olivia Lewis and Louis Aguilar joined Donna and Orlando for a discussion of stories they authored last week after the 2020 Census results found that the population in Detroit is still on the decline.  Louis wrote a timeline of major events within the last decade that could help put in perspective why population in Detroit continues to decline.  Olivia wrote a story that amp...